Alec Baldwin's lawyer addresses DA's possible 'Rust' charges

An attorney for Alec Baldwin has responded to a recently revealed letter in which a New Mexico district attorney said she might prosecute up to four people in the fatal accidental shooting on the set of the actor's Western film "Rust" in October.

Santa Fe County District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies told the state's Board of Finance in an Aug. 30 letter obtained by Albuquerque TV station KRQE and others that her office had "been waiting for evidence to be examined by the FBI." That federal agency tested the antique .45-caliber Long Colt F.lli Pietta single-action revolver held by Baldwin when it discharged, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza.

With most of the results in, Carmack-Altwies wrote, "I am ready to start the decision of what individuals will be criminally charged in this case. If charges are warranted," she wrote, her office "anticipates prosecuting up to four individuals."  

The district attorney asked for $635,500 in emergency funding for expenses including a "media contact person, paralegal, expert witnesses and general trial expenses." The board last week granted roughly $317,000.

"Some media reports today draw false conclusions based on a letter from the Santa Fe Dist. Attorney," responded Baldwin's attorney in the case, Luke Nikas, in a statement to Newsday. "The DA has made clear that she has not received the sheriff's report or made any decisions about who, if anyone, might be charged in this case."

He added that "during my communications with the DA's office just a few weeks ago, after the August 30 funding request was submitted, I was told that it would be premature to discuss the case because they had not yet reviewed the file or deliberated about their charging decision. It is irresponsible to report otherwise. The DA's office must be given the space to review this matter without unfounded speculation and innuendo."

A Santa Fe County Sheriff's representative told the newspaper the Santa Fe New Mexican Thursday it was still investigating: "Once the case file is completed, reviewed by supervisors and approved for release, the sheriff's office will then forward the case to the district attorney. At this time I do not have a time frame for you."

Last month, a postmortem-examination report by New Mexico chief medical investigator Heather Jarrell called Hutchins' death accidental.

Amityville-born and Massapequa-raised Emmy winner Baldwin, 64, did not respond directly to reports of possible charges. In an Instagram post Monday with photos of some of his and wife Hilaria Baldwin's children he wrote in part, "My heart has been broken a thousand times this past year. And things in my life May never be the same. Lots of changes coming. But my family has kept me alive. They are my reason for living. And @hilariabaldwin, too."